Door assembly

ABSTRACT

A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening therein generally including means mounted along opposed sides of the opening providing opposed guide channels, the guide channels having opposed walls including openings therein, cover means for the enclosure opening operatively connected at one end thereof to the enclosure for movement between open and closed positions relative to the enclosure opening, and the cover means having a latch assembly spaced from the operative connection of the cover means to the enclosure, the latch assembly including a pair of latch pins movable along a line of travel intersecting the opposed guide channels, and actuating means for moving the latch pins along the line of travel thereof to selectively position the outer end portions thereof in the guide channels to permit relative movement between the cover means and the enclosure to open and close the cover means, and to position the ends of the latch pins in the openings in the walls of the guide channels to restrict the movement of the cover means along its line of travel relative to the enclosure.

United States Patent [451 Jan. 25, 1972 Dennis [54] DOOR ASSEMBLY [72] lnventor: James Dennis, Culpeper, Va.

[73] Assignee: City Tank Corporation, Culpeper, Va. [22] Filed: Feb. 11, 1970 [III Appl. No.: 10,425

[52] U.S. Cl 49/40, 49/252, 49/450 I51] int. CL.v ..E06b 3/34 [58] Field 01 Search ..49/40, 197, 198, 200, 201, 49/202, 203, 450, 250, 252; 292/35; 296/101; 214/82 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,630,153 5/1927 Williams ..49/450 X 2,577,348 12/1951 McLaughlin ..292/35 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 303,610 1/1929 Great Britain ..296/101 Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey Attorney-Mason, Fenwick & Lawrence [57] ABSTRACT A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening therein generally including means mounted along opposed sides of the opening providing opposed guide channels. the guide channels having opposed walls including openings therein, cover means for the enclosure opening operatively connected at one end thereof to the enclosure for movement between open and closed positions relative to the enclosure opening, and the cover means having a latch assembly spaced from the operative connection of the cover means to the enclosure, the latch assembly including a pair oflatch pins movable along a line of travel intersecting the opposed guide channels, and actuating means for moving the latch pins along the line of travel thereof to selectively position the outer end por- 4 tions thereof in the guide channels to permit relative movement between the cover means and the enclosure to open and close the cover means, and to position the ends of the latch pins in the openings in the walls of the guide channels to restrict the movement of the cover means along its line of travel relative to the enclosure.

14 Claims, Drawing Figures PATENTEU mazsmz 31636556 sum 1 0F 3 PATENTED JANZS r972 SHEET 2 BF 3 INVENTOR JAMES DENNIS BY masm f/wmslmw ATTORNEYS aleaasss PATENTED JAN25 I972 SHEET 3 [IF 3 INVENTOR N v mm. m

JAMES beams masmfgewwbag CC; ATTORNEYS noon ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a door assembly and more particularly to a door assembly for an enclosure mounted on a vehicle chassis, such as a hopper for a refuse collecting vehicle.

In refuse collecting vehicles of the rear end loader type, there usually is provided a hopper unit housing a packer mechanism which is operable to transfer refuse deposited in the hopper forwardly into a storage enclosure, and to compact such refuse in the storage enclosure. Commonly, the hopper unit is provided with a door assembly which is opened and closed repeatedly by refuse handling personnel in the course of collecting refuse.

It has been found that most conventional hopper door assemblies for refuse collecting vehicles have not been entirely satisfactory in construction and operation. Particularly, it has been found that such conventional hopper door assemblies are not sufficiently sturdy in construction for effective use over an extended period of service, cannot be easily and conveniently opened and closed in the course of normal operation, and cannot be locked positively and reliably in the fully open or closed positions.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a novel door assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel door assembly for an enclosure mounted on a vehicle chassis.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel hopper door assembly for a refuse collecting vehicle of the rear end motor type.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel hopper door assembly of the sliding type.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel hopper door assembly which is sturdy in construction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel hopper door assembly of the sliding type which can be easily and conveniently opened and closed with minimum effort by the operator.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel hopper door assembly which may be locked positively and reliably in the fully open and closed positions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel hopper door assembly of the sliding type, which can be locked in the fully open and closed positions, and easily unlocked and opened or closed in a single easy motion.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel hopper door assembly which is comparatively simple in construction, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install, and easy to operate and maintain over a long period of service.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those persons having skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention installed on a refuse collecting vehicle of the rear end loader type;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, having portions thereof broken away;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in H6. 3.

Briefly described, the present invention relates to a door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening therein, generally including stationary means disposed on the enclosure along the opening including guide means and locking means, cover means for the enclosure opening operatively connected at one end thereof to the enclosure for movement between open and closed positions relative to the enclosure opening, and the cover means having movable means spaced from the operative connection of the cover means to the enclosure, selectively cooperable with the guide means for guiding the cover means along the enclosure opening relative to the enclosure, and the locking means for locking the cover means relative to the enclosure, and actuating means for moving the movable means selectively into cooperation with the guide means and the locking means.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the operative connection between the cover means and the enclosure consists of a pair of support arm members pivotally connected to the cover member and the enclosure, provided with biasing means operatively interconnecting the support arm members and the enclosure for urging the cover means away from the enclosure opening to an open position, the stationary means including the guide means and locking means, comprises a pair of guide channels disposed on opposite sides of the enclosure opening for guiding a portion of the cover means along the enclosure opening, having openings therein for receiving the movable means, thereby restricting the movement of the cover means relative to the stationary means, and the actuating means includes a handle movable to a selected position to correspondingly move the movable means into the openings in the guide channels, and movable in directions along the length of travel of the cover means to position the movable means into engagement with the guide means, thereby permitting the cover means to be moved along the guide means.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a refuse collecting vehicle 10 of the rear end loader type, which includes a vehicle chassis 11 having a conventional cab 12 mounted thereon, a refuse storage body 13 mounted on the vehicle chassis, and a loading hopper 14 mounted on the rear end of the storage body. The loading hopper 14 houses a packer mechanism which is operable to transfer refuse deposited in the loading hopper forwardly into the storage body 13. The packer mechanism is of a conventional type, which is adapted to compact refuse in the hopper, transfer the compacted refuse into the storage body, and further compact the refuse in the storage body. The loading hopper 14 generally includes a, pair of spaced sidewalls l5 and 16, a bottom wall .l7, and a downwardly and rearwardly curved top wall 18 having an opening 19 provided with a door assembly 20 embodying the present invention.

The door assembly 20 consists of a cover assembly 21 supported at its upper end on a hanger assembly 22 mounted on the hopper 14, which includes a latch assembly 23 at its lower end cooperable with a guide assembly 24 mounted on opposed sides of the opening 19 of the hopper. The hanger assembly 22 consists of a pair of aligned mounting pins 25 and 26 rigidly secured to the sides 15 and 16 of the hopper, a pair of support arm members 27 and 28 pivotally connected at their upper ends to the mounting pins 25 and 26, and a hinge bar 29 which interconnects the free ends of the support arm members 27 and 28. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the lengths of the support arm members 27 and 28 are sufficient to pennit the hinge bar 29 to move from a lower position A adjacent the upper edge of the hopper opening to an upper position B disposed in spaced relation to the upper wall 18 of the hopper, corresponding to the fully opened and closed positions of the cover assembly 21 relative to the hopper opening 19. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the upper portion of the cover assembly 21 is supported on the hinge bar 29 which is urged into its upper position B by means of a pair of springs 30 and 31 interconnecting a pair of brackets 32 and 33 secured to the upper sides of the support arm members 27 and 28, and a pair of brackets 34 and 35 rigidly secured to the sidewalls 15 and 16 of the hopper unit at points above the mounting pins 25 and 26.

The guide assembly 24 consists of a pair of elongated mounting plates 36 and 37 which are curved along their lengths and rigidly secured, preferably by welding, to structural box beam members 38 and 39 forming comer components of the hopper unit and defining the sides of the hopper opening 19, and a pair of channel shaped guide members 40 and 41 which also are curved along their lengths and rigidly secured in spaced parallel relation relative to each other, on the mounting plates 36 and 37. As best illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 7, the upper ends 36a and 37a of mounting plates 36 and 37 diverge from the beam members 38 and 39 and are provided with flanges 36b and 37b which are secured by welding to the outer sides of the beam members 38 and 39. The guide members 40 and 41 extend along the mounting plates 36 and 37 from a point below the lower edge of the hopper opening 19 to a point above the upper edge of the hopper opening, as best illustrated in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the guide members 40 and 41 consist of a pair of opposed, parallel bottom walls 42 and 43 which are disposed perpendicular to aligned mounting plates 36 and 37, sidewalls 43 and 44 which are disposed in alignment and are mounted on the mounting plates 36 and 37, and aligned sidewalls 45 and 46 which are spaced from sidewalls 43 and 44. The lower ends of the bottom walls 42 and 43 of the guide members are provided with aligned openings 47 and 48, and the upper ends thereof are provided with a similar pair of aligned openings 49 and 50 which will later be described in connection with the latch assembly 23.

The cover assembly 21 is provided with a frame structure consisting of a pair of angle shaped side members 51 and 52 which are curved along their lengths and spaced apart in parallel relation, an angle shaped upper member 53 interconnecting the upper ends of the side members 51 and 52, and a channel shaped bottom member 54 which is disposed in spaced parallel relation to the upper interconnecting member 53, and provides a housing for the latch assembly 23. Mounted on the frame members 51 through 54 is a rectangular shaped panel member 55 which is curved along its length along with the side members 51 and 52 so that the cover assembly 21 essentially will conform to the outer configuration of the wall 18 of hopper unit 14 when the cover assembly overlies the hopper opening 19, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3. As previously mentioned, the upper end of the cover assembly is pivotally mounted on the hinge bar 29 which extends through a pair of aligned openings in the upper ends of the side frame members 51 and 52 of the cover assembly.

The lower frame member 54 of the cover assembly consists of a channel shaped member having a bottom wall 56 and parallel front and rear walls 57 and 58. Rigidly secured in an opening in front wall 57 is a sleeve member 59 having an axis disposed intermediate the ends of the channel shaped frame member 54 and perpendicular to the walls 57 and 58, with the inner end thereof spaced from the rear wall 58 of the member 56. Journaled within the sleeve 59 and a coaxially disposed journal block 60 mounted on the rear wall 58, is a pivot pin 61 having an actuating handle 62 mounted on the exterior end thereof. Diametn'cally disposed on the pivot pin 61, relative to the axis thereof between the sleeve 59 and the journal block 60, is a crank arm member 63. The crank arm 63 is rigidly secured to a collar 64 which is secured to the inner end of the pivot pin 61 by means of a bolt 65, so that when the pivot pin 61 is rotated by the handle 62, the crank arm 63 will be caused to rotate with the pivot pin.

The outer ends of the frame member 54 are provided with a set of transverse walls 66 and 67 supporting a guide sleeve 68, and a set of transverse walls 69 and 70 supporting a guide sleeve 71 which is disposed substantially coaxially with the guide sleeve 68. Spaced inwardly from the transverse walls 67 and 69 is a pair of transversely disposed abutment walls 72 and 73 which are provided with openings disposed coaxially with the guide sleeves 68 and 71. As best illustrated in FIG. 4, a pair of latch pins 74 and 75 are slidably mounted in the guide sleeves 68 and 71, having the inner ends thereof connected to the crank arm 63 by means of connecting rods 76 and 77 and clevises 78 and 79 which are pivotally connected to diametrically opposed portions of the crank arm. The latch pins 74 and 75 are urged in their maximum extended positions, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, with the crank arm 63 disposed in substantial alignment with the latch pins, by means of a spring 80 disposed between the abutment walls 72 and a washer 81 engaging the inner end of the latch pin 74, and a spring 82 inter-.

posed between the abutment wall 73 and a washer 83 engageable with the inner end of the latch pin 75. As best shown in FIG. 4, the outward travels of the springs 80 and 82 are limited by the engagement of the washers 81 and 83 with the inner edges of the guide sleeves 68 and 71.

The lower end of the cover assembly is adapted to be moved along the guide channels 40 and 41 of the guide assembly 24 to register the latch pins 74 and 75 with the lower set of openings 47 and 48, or the upper set of openings 49 and 50 in the bottom walls 42 and 43 of the guide members, corresponding to the fully closed and opened positions of the cover assembly. The components of the latch assembly further are designed, so that when the crank arm 63 is positioned in alignment with the latch pins 74 and 75 and the latch pins are in registry with a set of aligned openings 47 and 48, or a set of openings 49 and 50, the latch pins will be in their fully extended positions and received within a set of such openings to lock the cover assembly either in the fully open or closed position. When the actuating handle is rotated to the position illustrated by the phantom lines in FIG. 5, so that an end portion of the crank arm engages a stop 84 secured to the bottom wall 56 of frame member 54, the latch pins will be retracted from the set of openings 47 and 48, or the set of openings 49 and 50 to position the ends of the latch pins within the guide members 40 and 41, thereby freeing the lower end of the cover assembly and permitting it to be moved along the lengths of the guide members 40 and 41 between the fully opened and closed positions.

Referring to FIG. 5, it will be appreciated that the handle 62 may be rotated either upwardly or downwardly to engage either of the surfaces 85 or 86 with the stop 84, to retract the ends of the latch pins out of a set of openings in the guide members, and to position such ends within the guide means. It further will be noted that the springs 80 and 82 will operate to bias the latch pins to their extended positions, so that when the latch pins become registered with the lower set of openings 47 and 48, or the upper openings 49 and 50, the cover assembly automatically will be locked in the fully open or fully closed position.

In opening the door assembly as described, an operator need only grasp the handle 62 and move it upwardly to retract the latch pins 74 and 75, thereby releasing the lower end of the cover assembly from the guide assembly, and continue lifting the lower end of the cover assembly to a position at which the springs 30 and 31 will function to lift the lower end of the door assembly to its upward limit of travel, thereby registering the latch pins 74 and 75 with the upper openings 49 and 50. Upon such registry, the springs 80 and 82 will cause the latch pins to extend into the openings 49 and 50, thus locking the door panel in the fully opened position.

When it is desired to close the door assembly, the operator need only grasp the handle 62 and pull it downwardly to retract the latch pins, thus releasing the lower end of the cover assembly from the guide assembly, and continue to pull the handle downwardly to a position at which the latch pins again are registered with the lower openings 47 and 48 in which they are extended by the springs 80 and 82.

It will be noted that whenever the handle 62 is moved upwardly or downwardly to rotate the crank arm 63, either crank arm surface 85 or 86 will engage the stop 84 to position the ends of the latch pins within the guide channels, to permit the lower end of the cover assembly to be moved between its upper and lower limits of travel. It further will be noted that when the cover assembly is moved to its fully closed position, the springs 30 and 31 will be loaded to assist in lifting the cover assembly on the next occasion when the door assembly is opened.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those skilled in the art. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening comprising means mounted along opposed sides of said opening providing opposed guide channels, said guide channels having opposed walls including openings therein, cover means for said enclosure opening operatively connected at one end thereof to said enclosure for movement between open and closed positions relative to said enclosure opening, and said cover means having a latch assembly spaced from said operative connection of said cover means to said enclosure, said latch assembly including at least one pin member movable along a line of travel intersecting one of said guide channels, and actuating means for moving said pin member along the line of travel thereof to selectively position an outer end thereof in said guide channel to permit relative movement between said cover means and said enclosure to open and close said cover means, and position the end of said pin member in said opening in the wall of said guide channel to restrict the movement of said cover means along its line of travel relative to said enclosure, said actuating means including a handle for moving said cover means between said open and closed positions, said handle being operable when initially actuated for moving said cover means, to move said pin member out of said opening in the wall of said guide channels.

2. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 1, wherein the wall of said guide channel is provided with spaced openings to permit said cover means to be locked in opened or closed positions.

3. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 1, wherein said handle is movable to a selected position to correspondingly move said pin member into said opening in the wall of said guide channel, and movable along the line of travel of said cover means to correspondingly move said pin member into said guide channel.

4. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 1, wherein said actuating means includes a crank arm member mounted on said cover means for pivotal movement with said handle, and said pin member is pivotally connected to said crank arm member whereby upon rotation of said handle about its pivot axis the end portion of said pin member will be extended into said opening in the wall of said guide channel to lock said cover means relative to said enclosure, or retracted to position the end portion of said pin member in said guide channel to permit said cover means to be moved relative to said enclosure and be guided along said guide channel.

5. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 11, wherein said latch system includes means for biasing said pin member in the extended position.

6. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 9, wherein said operative connection between said door panel and said closure consists of at least one support arm member pivotally connected to said cover means and said enclosure.

7. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 14, including biasing means operatively interconnecting said support arm member and said enclosure member for urging said cover means away from said enclosure opening into an open position.

8. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 4, wherein said handle is disposed at an angle relative to the line of travel of said cover means.

9. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 12, wherein said crank arm member is disposed substantially in alignment with said pin member when said pin member is in the extended position, and said handle is disposed at an angle less than relative to said crank arm member.

10. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 17, wherein said latch assembly includes biasing means for urging said pin member in the extended position.

11. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening comprising means disposed along opposed sides of said opening providing guide channels having bottom walls, said bottom walls having a first pair of openings at the lower ends thereof, disposed in alignment, and a second pair of openings in the upper ends thereof, disposed in alignment, a door panel for said enclosure opening having upper and lower edges, a pair of support arms pivotally connected at one set of ends thereof to said enclosure and pivotally connected at a set of opposite ends thereof to said door panel adjacent the upper edge thereof, permitting movement of said door panel between open and closed positions, biasing means interconnecting said pivot arms and said enclosure for urging said door panel away from the opening in said enclosure to an open position, and a latch assembly mounted on said door panel adjacent the lower edge thereof including a pair of pin members disposed in alignment and movable along a line of travel intersecting the opposed bottom walls of said guide channels, a pivot pin having an axis disposed perpendicular to the line of travel of said pin members journaled in said door panel, a pair of crank arm members mounted on said pivot pin for pivotal movement therewith having the end portions thereof pivotally connected to said pin members, and a handle for moving said door panel between said open and closed positions, connected to said pivot pin whereby when said handle is pivoted between predetermined limits about the axis of said pivot pin, said pin members may be extended into a set of aligned openings in the walls of said guide channels to lock said door panel in a fully open or closed position, or retracted to position the ends of said pin members in said guide channels to pennit the lower portion of said door panel to be guided along the lengths of said guide channels, and when said handle is pivoted to one of said predetermined limits and force continues to be applied, such force shall be transmitted to said door panel to move it along its line of travel.

12. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 19, wherein said latch assembly includes means for biasing said pin members to their extended positions.

13. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 11, wherein said handle is disposed at an angle relative to the line of travel of said door panel.

14. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 11, wherein said crank arm member and handle are disposed in alignment with said pin members when said pin members are in their extended positions. 

1. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening comprising means mounted along opposed sides of said opening providing opposed guide channels, said guide channels having opposed walls including openings therein, cover means for said enclosure opening operatively connected at one end thereof to said enclosure for movement between open and closed positions relative to said enclosure opening, and said cover means having a latch assembly spaced from said operative connection of said cover means to said enclosure, said latch assembly including at least one pin member movable along a line of travel intersecting one of said guide channels, and actuating means for moving said pin member along the line of travel thereof to selectively position an outer end thereof in said guide channel to permit relative movement between said cover means and said enclosure to open and close said cover means, and position the end of said pin member in said opening in the wall of said guide channel to restrict the movement of said cover means along its line of travel relative to said enclosure, said actuating means including a handle for moving said cover means between said open and closed positions, said handle being operable when initially actuated for moving said cover means, to move said pin member out of said opening in the wall of said guide channels.
 2. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an oPening according to claim 1, wherein the wall of said guide channel is provided with spaced openings to permit said cover means to be locked in opened or closed positions.
 3. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 1, wherein said handle is movable to a selected position to correspondingly move said pin member into said opening in the wall of said guide channel, and movable along the line of travel of said cover means to correspondingly move said pin member into said guide channel.
 4. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 1, wherein said actuating means includes a crank arm member mounted on said cover means for pivotal movement with said handle, and said pin member is pivotally connected to said crank arm member whereby upon rotation of said handle about its pivot axis the end portion of said pin member will be extended into said opening in the wall of said guide channel to lock said cover means relative to said enclosure, or retracted to position the end portion of said pin member in said guide channel to permit said cover means to be moved relative to said enclosure and be guided along said guide channel.
 5. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 11, wherein said latch system includes means for biasing said pin member in the extended position.
 6. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 9, wherein said operative connection between said door panel and said closure consists of at least one support arm member pivotally connected to said cover means and said enclosure.
 7. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 14, including biasing means operatively interconnecting said support arm member and said enclosure member for urging said cover means away from said enclosure opening into an open position.
 8. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 4, wherein said handle is disposed at an angle relative to the line of travel of said cover means.
 9. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 12, wherein said crank arm member is disposed substantially in alignment with said pin member when said pin member is in the extended position, and said handle is disposed at an angle less than 90* relative to said crank arm member.
 10. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 17, wherein said latch assembly includes biasing means for urging said pin member in the extended position.
 11. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening comprising means disposed along opposed sides of said opening providing guide channels having bottom walls, said bottom walls having a first pair of openings at the lower ends thereof, disposed in alignment, and a second pair of openings in the upper ends thereof, disposed in alignment, a door panel for said enclosure opening having upper and lower edges, a pair of support arms pivotally connected at one set of ends thereof to said enclosure and pivotally connected at a set of opposite ends thereof to said door panel adjacent the upper edge thereof, permitting movement of said door panel between open and closed positions, biasing means interconnecting said pivot arms and said enclosure for urging said door panel away from the opening in said enclosure to an open position, and a latch assembly mounted on said door panel adjacent the lower edge thereof including a pair of pin members disposed in alignment and movable along a line of travel intersecting the opposed bottom walls of said guide channels, a pivot pin having an axis disposed perpendicular to the line of travel of said pin members journaled in said door panel, a pair of crank arm members mounted on said pivot pin for pivotal movement therewith having the end portions thereof pivotally connected to said pin membeRs, and a handle for moving said door panel between said open and closed positions, connected to said pivot pin whereby when said handle is pivoted between predetermined limits about the axis of said pivot pin, said pin members may be extended into a set of aligned openings in the walls of said guide channels to lock said door panel in a fully open or closed position, or retracted to position the ends of said pin members in said guide channels to permit the lower portion of said door panel to be guided along the lengths of said guide channels, and when said handle is pivoted to one of said predetermined limits and force continues to be applied, such force shall be transmitted to said door panel to move it along its line of travel.
 12. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 19, wherein said latch assembly includes means for biasing said pin members to their extended positions.
 13. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 11, wherein said handle is disposed at an angle relative to the line of travel of said door panel.
 14. A door assembly for a vehicle having an enclosure with an opening according to claim 11, wherein said crank arm member and handle are disposed in alignment with said pin members when said pin members are in their extended positions. 